Xiamen Air Review: Business & Economy Class

Introduction

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It had been nine years since I last flew Xiamen Air, so I was curious to see what had changed.

Flying business class from Amsterdam to Xiamen, then economy to Melbourne, I got to experience both ends of their service.

During my transit, I took the chance to visit their new HQ and catch up with their inflight team about onboard meal concepts, the innovative café brand, and their pre-order meal programs.

Amsterdam to Xiamen

I was originally seated in 13L but was asked to move due to another passenger’s request.

I ended up in the first row of business class on their older 787-8.

At my seat were some nice touches: Voss water, an amenity kit, and a spa steam mask that heats up when you open it.

Flight attendant Jess took my meal orders before takeoff and offered Henri Dubois Brut champagne or lemon water with warm towels.

The champagne was decent quality, not the cheap stuff some airlines serve.

Inflight Menu

Xiamen Airlines’ business class menu offered three main meal choices: veal, chicken, or fish.

Here’s a look at the menu and drinks list:

Inflight Service

Service started after our 9:30 PM departure and finished within about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The service kicked off with an after-takeoff drink and warm nuts, followed by a hot towel.

The tuna tataki starter looked beautiful and tasted authentic with proper searing.

But the lettuce salad alongside it was disappointing—sparse with wilted leaves that looked like they’d been sitting around too long.

The tuna was beautifully presented, though the lettuce salad was a bit sparse with some wilted leaves, but it did the job.

The tray was eye catching, clean and elegant, with sleek napkin rings and cutlery that stood out.

For the main course, I chose Veal with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Despite the weird presentation with the Veal hidden under broccoli, the flavours were fantastic.

The Veal was perfectly cooked, tender, well-seasoned, and genuinely restaurant quality.

It’s easily the best dish of the flight.

The dessert was ice cream (melted, unfortunately) and caramel cream. The caramel dessert was lovely, with good texture and balanced sweetness.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms were impeccably clean throughout the flight, with the attentive crew handing out towels to passengers after each use and regularly checking the facilities.

Sleep and Amenity Kit

I managed to get a few hours of sleep, thanks to the comfortable pillow, blanket, and a more substantial doona provided by the airline.

The amenity kit was a collaboration with English brand Temple Spa, featuring a mouthwash, eye mask, dental kit, earplugs, skin balm, and a comb.

All packaging was recyclable, and the kit itself was quite stylish.

Second Service

Two hours before landing, the crew began the second meal service. It was a one-tray concept with everything delivered at once, and the bread served on the side.

The breakfast tray included cornflakes, fresh fruit, apple tart, and shakshuka with mushrooms and spinach.

Two hours before landing, breakfast arrived on one tray: cornflakes, fresh fruit, apple tart, and shakshuka with mushrooms and spinach.

The eggs were rubbery and unappetising, but the tray presentation looked elegant.

Head Office Visit

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During my Xiamen transit, I visited their new headquarters and was greeted by a replica Boeing 787 engine in the lobby.

In 2019, at the IATA meeting in Seoul, GE executives committed to supporting Xiamen Airlines by incorporating GE engine elements into the headquarters’ design.

The Little Galley Cafe

I discovered their “Little Galley Café” with three locations in Xiamen and Shanghai, serving coffee blends from Kunming, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil—the same coffee used on flights.

Pastries are made daily by their catering team.

This same coffee is also served on Xiamen Air flights. Pastries are freshly made daily by the Xiamen Air catering team.

Their logo is clever: It looks like a passenger call bell, but flip it upside down, and it’s coffee dripping from a machine.

They also turn coffee grounds and bamboo pulp into notebooks and other products.

The Livesteaming Room

The most interesting part was their live streaming room, where they sell merchandise and meal upgrades through WeChat and TikTok.

Since 2022, passengers can pre-order or upgrade domestic meals via social media, something I’d never seen an airline do.

Since 2022, Xiamen Air has been offering passengers the option to pre-order or upgrade their meals on domestic flights via these platforms.

Cabin Mock Up

Nearby, there’s a replica airline gate with first and economy class cabins, used for filming social media content.

Chef Xiamen Air

Their “Chef XiamenAir” brand focuses on farm fresh ingredients through agricultural programs, and its meals are designed to reduce food waste.

Ingredients are sourced from agricultural assistance programs, and meal selection is encouraged to reduce food waste.

It’s evident they take great pride in their inflight product, so it’s no surprise they’re one of China’s top airlines.

The Lounge

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Back at the airport, I was given access to the lounge, where I took a shower and relaxed before my flight. The shower facilities and bathrooms were spotless.

The lounge features a made-to-order noodle station and a buffet with a variety of local and international dishes.

Although I didn’t see anyone actively cleaning, the space was impeccably maintained.

There’s ample seating, and the Chef XiamenAir brand is also present in the lounge.

I sampled some of their fries, which were quite good, along with some fresh fruit.

Xiamen to Melbourne

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On the next leg of my journey, I flew economy class from Xiamen to Melbourne.

The cabin crew greeted me warmly as I found my seat, where I was surprised to find a bottle of water and some nuts already waiting.

The airline provides a blanket and pillow, and I found the legroom to be decent for economy class.

About 30 minutes after takeoff, the inflight meal service began, and I was treated to a Fujian-inspired meal, accompanied by a cute note from the staff explaining the options.

The tray included a starter salad, fresh fruit, chocolate cake, and a spicy sauce that completely transformed the main dish from bland to flavourful.

What stood out was the generosity, it is rare to get a salad, fresh fruit, dessert, and wet towel in economy.

Most airlines, including Qantas, don’t include these extras in economy.

The three additional items on my tray are not typically offered in economy class, but the airline surprised me with them.

Turtle Cake Print Peanut Cake: A light peanut-flavoured ice cream that reminded me of a Reese’s cup, created in collaboration with Black Pearl One Diamond Restaurant QUEEN (USD$4).

Buddha Skipping Walls: A premium dish featuring abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, scallops, snail meat, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots symbolising blessings and longevity, crafted by top Chinese chef Lin Qingxiang (USD$26).

Grapefruit/Jasmine Iced Coffee: An interesting and refreshing drink that took some getting used to but was enjoyable (USD$2.80).

Instead of plastic cups, they use their Egret Bamboo series, which is made from renewable bamboo pulp for cups, trays, tableware, and biodegradable straws.

In 2021 alone, this change reduced plastic use by 15.92 million cups, saving 167.16 tons of plastic.

It’s nice to see environmental efforts with real impact numbers.

Breakfast was served two hours before landing, with a choice of Western or Asian options.

I chose Western: eggs, sausages, potatoes, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, fruit, yoghurt, and jam, a substantial second service for economy class.

Conclusion

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Throughout both flights, crew interactions felt genuinely warm.

The airline knew I was travelling with them and provided some extra attention, so I haven’t focused heavily on service ratings.

That said, I observed them treating other passengers with the same courtesy and attentiveness..

The business class delivered solid food with that standout veal, though some dishes (rubbery eggs, wilted salad) were disappointing.

Economy class is surprising, with generous portions, cultural touches, and premium items you’d never expect.

The Fujian meal explanation, chef collaborations, and sustainable practices created memorable moments.

Both classes offer decent value, but economy felt more generous than typical Chinese carriers.

A big thank you to Xiamen Air for the little surprises in economy class—they made the experience memorable.

The veal alone made the business class worthwhile, but don’t overlook their economy product if you’re budget-conscious.